Thomas Hartley

Thomas Hartley (September 7, 1748 – December 21, 1800) was an American lawyer, soldier, and politician from York, Pennsylvania.

Early life and education Hartley was born in Colebrookdale Township in the Province of Pennsylvania. At 18 years of age, he moved to York, where he studied law under Samuel Johnson and was admitted to practice law in York County, Pennsylvania, and the courts in Philadelphia in 1769.

Career In 1774, Hartley was appointed first lieutenant of a company of soldiers in York and the following summer was appointed lieutenant colonel of the First Battalion of York County Associators. In the fall of 1775, he served on an expedition to Canada and upon return was chosen as lieutenant-colonel of the Seventh Pennsylvania Regiment. The regiment merged with other units in January 1779 to become the "new" 11th Pennsylvania Regiment and went with the Sullivan Expedition that summer. However, Harley was elected to the Pennsylvania General Assembly in October 1778 and resigned from his military in February 1779.